Karnataka farmers to join ‘Bharat Bandh’ against farm laws

Bengaluru, Dec 6 : Thousands of farmers across Karnataka would join ‘Bharat bandh’ on December 8 to protest against the 3 controversial farm laws and in support of their repeal, Karnataka Rajya Riatha Sangha president K. Chandreshekar said on Sunday.
“All members of about 300 farmers’ organisations will participate in the day-long bandh on Tuesday in cities and towns across the state except in Bengaluru, where it (shutdown) will be observed on Wednesday for logistic reasons,” Chandrashekhar told reporters here.
“As all our members will observe Bharat bandh in towns and villages across the state on Tuesday, they will come to Bengaluru on Wednesday to hold a day-long shutdown in protest against the laws and demand their withdrawal,” he said.
Extending support to hundreds of farmers in northern states staging protests in Delhi or over 10 days against the laws, Chandrashekar said the ryots in the state were also opposed to the APMC bill and the land reforms bill the BJP government had moved in the state Assembly in September, as these were against farmers’ welfare.
A dozen members of the Sangha led by Chandrashekar participated for 3 days last week in the farmers’ agitation on the Delhi border with Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Scores of trade associations and labour organisations, opposition Congress and Janata Dal-Secular are extending support to the 2-day shutdown on December 8 and 9 by the farmers in Karnataka.